A joint concert to be held in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall next spring is set to recognise the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
Organised by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, this exciting May event follows on from this year’s hugely successful Scotland Salutes: D-Day 80 concert held back in June.
Scotland’s Salute: VE80 is Scotland’s National VE activities, endorsed by the Scottish Government. It will take place on 6th May (two days before VE Day) at the Usher Hall and will be a musical extravaganza that will focus on telling the events that led to victory in Europe. Bringing the stories of those who were there to life and culminating in an act of remembrance. Music will be provided by a tri-service orchestra.
The event will be narrated by Alasdair Hutton OBE TD, previously the voice of the world-renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with BFBS’s own Mark Mckenzie acting as the evenings compere.
Dr Claire Armstrong, OBE, Chief Executive of Legion Scotland said: “Legion Scotland are exceptionally proud to bring the latest in our commemorative concerts in honour of this historic milestone in partnership with Poppyscotland.
“Our Scotland Salutes concert is set to be a fantastic evening, with wonderful music and stories playing out on stage, whilst representing our nation coming together to reflect on the momentous occasion that was Victory in Europe, 80 years on.”
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland added: “It is always important to reflect on the sacrifices that Service requires, and indeed to celebrate VE Day, in particular in 2025 given that it is the 80th anniversary of such a historic event.
“All profits made from ticket sales will be split 50/50 between Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland. Profits will go directly to supporting the Armed Forces community in Scotland, through Legion Scotland’s comradeship events and Poppyscotland’s welfare provisions.”
Tickets for this one-off concert spectacular, which are priced at £20.25 for the Stalls, £25 for the Grand Circle and £19.45 for the Upper Circle, and are the perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones, are available from November 25th and can be booked through the Usher Hall booking office online or by calling 0131 228 1155.
Written and performed by Martin O’Connor Directed by Lu Kemp
Musical Director and Composer – Oliver Searle, Sound and Video Designer – Rob Willoughby, Set and Costume designed by Emma Bailey and Rachel O’Neill
1 April to 2 May 2025
A Scotland-wide tour opening at Melrose, touring to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ullapool, Stornoway (Isle of Lewis), Portree (Skye), Dornie (Lochalsh), Cumbernauld, Oban, Helensburgh, Lerwick (Shetland) and Inverness.
Opening Performance at Corn Exchange, Melrose on 2 April 2025
The story of the greatest literary hoax of all time.
In 1760 Scottish poet James Macpherson set the world ablaze with stories of the third-century Scottish bard, Ossian. This tartan-trimmed tale of Highland history spread far and wide, capturing the imagination of thousands– but was it built on a deception?
In 2025 Scottish poet Martin O’Connor decides to revisit Macpherson’s epic and begins to question his own relationship with Scottish culture. The sporrans, the stags, the shortbread – do these ‘gift-shop’ images of Scotland hold us back or bring us forward? What does it mean to be authentic, and is the truth sometimes better told in a lie?
Through The Shortbread Tin is a new show, performed in Scots, with Gaelic songs, which explores Scottish culture, myths, history and identity.
Martin will be joined on stage by three female Gaelic choral singers, singing original songs composed by Oliver Searle.
Audiences are invited to join Martin and Macpherson on an oral odyssey spanning centuries of Scottish history, exploring the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves.
BACKGROUND TO OSSIAN
In 1760 Highlander Macpherson published Fragments of Ancient Poetry to great critical and commercial acclaim. The poems were collected from oral sources around Scotland and were presented as the work of a third century bard, Ossian, soon dubbed The Homer of the North.
There soon followed two other publications, Fingal and Temora, and together they set the Scottish and European literary world alight. The ‘Ossian effect’ soon saw a rise in interest in Scottish and Highland ways of life and an increase in tourism and cultural interest.
The impact of Ossian was immediate and permanent, even if the individual poems eventually fell out of fashion. But soon after publication, debates over Ossian’s aesthetic and moral ‘legitimacy’ surfaced, which plagued the writer and the impact and legacy of the work.
Martin O’Connor is an award-winning theatre-maker, performer and poet from Glasgow. He is interested in exploring ideas of voice and identity through theatre and poetry, with particular interest in Scots, Gaelic and verbatim. He won Scots Performer of the Year Award at this year’s Scots Language Awards.
He was granted a Gavin Wallace Fellowship in 2018, hosted by Playwrights’ Studio Scotland and the Lyceum Theatre, marking the first stage in his research into James Macpherson and Ossian.
He makes work for solo performance as well as with, and for, other people. He was the National Theatre of Scotland Writer in Residence in 2020. Previous projects include Turntable (MJ McCarthy/Red Bridge Arts), Mark of the Beast (Martin O’Connor/Platform), Togail Nàisean/ Building a Nation (Glasgow Life).
Martin O’Connor, writer and performer said: “I’m looking forward to staging this work after many years of research and development, and I can’t wait to begin working with Lu and the rest of the creative team to tell this story.
“I have been fascinated with the history of Ossian and Macpherson since I started learning Gaelic and since I have rediscovered my Scots voice, and it gave me a jumping off point to explore all things linguistic, cultural and historical about Scotland, and my own upbringing.
“It seems that not many people know about Ossian and Macpherson, the hoax that he created, and the impact that it had on him and wider Scottish culture, so I am very excited to be staging this work and telling this tale at a time when we are still asking big questions about our country and identity.”
Through the Shortbread Tinis directed by Lu Kemp, a theatre director and dramaturg with a distinctive reputation for her work in new writing. Lu was Artistic Director of Perth Theatre between 2016 to 2023.
Her tenure was notable for supporting the creation of new work by Scottish artists and community engaged productions. As a freelance director, Lu has worked for The Citizens, The Royal Lyceum Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, Artangel, London,The Tricycle, Almeida and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
UK announces a major aid increase of £113 million for people in Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries
Foreign Secretary will call for the Adre border crossing to remain open indefinitely and for immediate action to end the violence
Draft UN Security Council resolution introduced to push for the protection of civilians and an unrestricted passage of aid.
THE UK has announced an aid package which will support more than one million people affected by the devastating war in Sudan, providing vital aid for those in need.
The new £113 million aid package, which doubles the UK’s aid commitment to Sudan and the region this year, will assist over 600,000 people in Sudan and 700,000 people in neighbouring countries who have fled the conflict, including Chad and South Sudan.
During the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the United Nations Security Council today [Monday 18 November], he will call on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to keep the vital Adre border crossing open indefinitely and for the removal of restrictions, which have limited the amount of aid coming through it. The Foreign Secretary will also call for the SAF and Rapid Support Forces to stop blocking aid convoys.
After 18 months of violent conflict, Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis of the decade, with over 500,000 people in Darfur in famine conditions. Over 11 million people are displaced, 25 million are in desperate need of aid, and famine is likely to spread.
The new funding package announced today will support UN and NGO partners in providing food, cash, shelter, medical assistance, water and sanitation.
Not only is this aid vitally needed, but it will also help people to stay within their home region so they can return to their homes when conditions allow.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The brutal conflict in Sudan has caused unimaginable suffering. The people of Sudan need more aid, which is why the UK is helping to provide much-needed food, shelter and education for the most vulnerable.
“But we cannot deliver aid without access. Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war and we can only stop this famine if every border crossing and route is open, accessible and safe.
“As the lead on Sudan in the UN Security Council, I will be using the UK’s Presidency on Monday to press for a resolution that ensures the protection of civilians and an unrestricted passage of aid.
At the UN, the Foreign Secretary will bring together international partners to lead a discussion on steps to push the warring parties to remove obstacles to humanitarian access.
Humanitarian workers face significant challenges delivering aid to those most in need with instances of aid workers killed, access being blocked by the warring parties, and UN workers unable to move freely.
The Adre border crossing re-opened in August and offers a vital lifeline to allow aid to be delivered from Chad into Darfur.
The Minister of State for Development Anneliese Dodds said: “During my visit to South Sudan in August, I saw first-hand the heart-breaking impact the violence is having on those fleeing the conflict.
“The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening. Famine and disease are spreading, and by next year, many more will be in desperate need of aid.
“We have to prevent further suffering by acting now. Support announced today will reach over a million people, providing food for some of those most in need and will assist neighbouring countries to continue hosting refugees.”
The UK has also introduced a new UN Security Council resolution which will pressure the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians, deliver a ceasefire and allow the safe passage of aid.
On 22 August, the UK Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds, announced £15 million to support those fleeing violence in Sudan, including those displaced to South Sudan and Chad.
BBC ALBA’s new six-part series, Cù Leis Thu? A Puppy for Pàdruig is getting up close with Scotland’s best-loved dog breeds – from firm family-favourites to breeds you may be less familiar with – as we follow presenter Peter MacQueen choosing a new puppy.
TV personality and author Peter MacQueen has been on a journey to find a pup to take home to the cosy rural hut he shares with partner, Coinneach MacLeod (The Hebridean Baker), following the passing of their beloved Westie, Seòras, last Christmas.
Peter sets out to gather as much information as he can about Scottish dog breeds, from the rarest to the oldest, and everything in between. He remarks: “I hope to find a new puppy…but choosing one will be the challenge!”
Starting in Skye, Peter meets one of the rarest dog breeds in the world – the Skye Terrier. After playing with the pups, he uncovers hidden secrets about the breed, which leads him to wonder if a Skye Terrier could fit in with their lives. Peter remarks: “From a practical perspective, could I look after that long hair? It’s difficult enough for me to look after my own beard!”
After a few more visits, Peter finds himself in Argyll and Bute discovering more about a dog breed very close to his heart – the West Highland Terrier. In the very place that the Westie originated, Peter learns the fascinating story behind why these charming dogs were bred, and how they got their distinctive white fur. Will the Westie pups prove to be irresistible to Peter? And if so, does he settle with one and resist the other breeds?
He continues to Glasgow’s famous Kelvingrove Park where, with the help of experts and a group of dog walkers, Peter sets out to see if genes play a role in shaping the dogs’ personalities.
The final episode, airing on Christmas Day, promises to deliver a heart-warming surprise and also discovers the rewarding experience of rescuing a dog. Animal shelters often see a huge increase in abandoned dogs after the festive season, when some owners realise they can’t keep up with the demands of a dog.
The new docu-series is set to entertain but also encourage potential dog-owners to think more carefully about their chosen breed and the responsibilities of bringing a dog into the family. While a puppy may appear to be the perfect Christmas gift Cù Leis Thu? A Puppy for Pàdruig reminds viewers that they are a lifelong commitment requiring training, socialisation and lots of love.
Tune in each week on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer to join Peter in pursuit of puppy facts, folklore and fun, from Tuesday 19 November at 8.30pm.
Don’t miss the Cu Leis Thu? A Puppy for Pàdruig finale surprise at 8.30pm on Christmas Day. Watch live or on demand (in Gaelic with English subtitles).
Requirements for voter identification brought in by the previous UK Government should be scrapped, Holyrood’s Minister for Parliamentary Business has said.
Jamie Hepburn has highlighted evidence from the Electoral Commission that the new requirements kept potential voters away from the ballot box at the recent UK Parliamentary election, and fears misunderstanding around the need for ID could have a similar impact in Scotland.
In a letter to Rushanara Ali MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government), he asked for the UK Government to consider scrapping voter ID requirements.
A brand-new show apartment has been launched for prospective homebuyers to view at a highly sought-after housing development in Edinburgh. Cruden Homes’ West Craigs Green development, which announced its apartment phase earlier this year, is now inviting potential homeowners to explore the luxury apartments located just 20 minutes from Edinburgh city centre.
Expertly designed by Get Fully Furnished, the apartment boasts a spacious and stylish layout that maximises natural light, offering both functionality and elegance. This impressive space is designed in calming tones and includes an impressive balcony, complete with uninterrupted views over green open space.
The exclusive collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments currently for sale caters to a wide range of buyers, from downsizers and first-time homeowners, to independent individuals seeking comfort and convenience.
The two-bedroom plots feature private balconies, perfect for enjoying breathtaking views across Lennie Park and Turnhouse Golf Club. Combining tranquillity with excellent connectivity, these apartments offer discerning buyers a unique lifestyle that balances natural beauty with modern convenience.
As an added incentive, Cruden Homes is offering an exclusive “Plot of the Month”—a rare opportunity to reserve a spacious, one-bedroom, ground-floor apartment available at West Craigs Green.
Priced at £220,000, this apartment is perfect for a couple or individual seeking the best of both worlds: access to lush green spaces and proximity to Scotland’s vibrant capital. Ready for move-in just in time for Christmas or in the New Year, it features generous storage and a stylish open-plan living and kitchen area, ideal for hosting.
For the fortunate buyer who reserves this month, Cruden Homes will include a flooring and furniture package, along with full Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) paid—making this a truly exceptional offer at West Craigs Green.
Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Cruden Homes, commented:“Designed with contemporary elegance and practicality in mind, our new show apartment demonstrates the standout quality and lifestyle on offer at West Craigs Green.
“Our Plot of the Month also offers exceptional value for those ready to make West Craigs Green their home.”
In addition to the striking collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, the development includes a range of three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached houses, and four-bedroom townhouses, each with private gardens.
The West Craigs area is undergoing significant transformation, evolving into a vibrant and friendly neighbourhood with abundant green spaces, including the newly established Lennie and Meadowfield Parks. Future plans include a new primary school and nursery, café, and health centre within walking distance.
Conveniently situated between Barnton and South Gyle, West Craigs Green is just five miles from Edinburgh city centre. It benefits from excellent transport links, including cycle routes, bus, rail, and tram stops in close proximity.
The Gyle Shopping Centre is easily accessible on foot or by car, offering a range of amenities such as high street shops, a supermarket, and eateries.
The show apartment is available for viewing at the sales and marketing suite, open Thursday to Monday, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm.
To find out more or to arrange a viewing, visit Cruden Homes or call 0131 600 0095.
The UK Government will today embark on major reform to end years of neglect of the children’s social care support system – breaking the cycle of late intervention and helping keep families together wherever possible so every child has the opportunity to thrive.
A wide range of new reform measures will be set out in Parliament to deliver better outcomes and a more secure life for children across the country. The government will empower social workers, and all those that work with children, to take action against children’s placements providers that deliver subpar standards of care at sky-high costs to councils and focus the system on early intervention.
It comes as local government spending on looked after children has ballooned from £3.1 billion in 2009/10 to £7 billion in 2022/23, with social workers all too often burdened by heavy caseloads, struggling to deliver the help that children and families need before problems escalate.
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said: “Our care system has suffered from years of drift and neglect. It’s bankrupting councils, letting families down, and above all, leaving too many children feeling forgotten, powerless and invisible.
“We want to break down the barriers to opportunity and end the cycle of crisis through ambitious reforms to give vulnerable children the best life chances – because none of us thrive until all of us do.
“We will crack down on care providers making excessive profit, tackle unregistered and unsafe provision and ensure earlier intervention to keep families together and help children to thrive.”
One of the most entrenched challenges facing children and social workers is some private providers, that are siphoning off money that should be going towards vulnerable children, making excessive profits or running unregistered homes that don’t meet the right standards of care.
According to analysis by the Local Government Association, there are now over 1,500 children in placements each costing the equivalent of over £0.5 million every year, while the largest 15 private providers make an average of 23 per cent profit.
New rules will require key placements providers – those that provide homes for the most children – to share their finances with the government, allowing profiteering to be challenged. Increasing financial transparency will ensure the providers that have the biggest impact on the market don’t unexpectedly go under and leave children without a home.
There will also be a “backstop” law to put a limit on the profit providers can make, that the government will introduce if providers do not voluntarily put an end to profiteering.
Not-for-profit providers and those backed by social investment are being called on to come forward to set up homes to strengthen the system.
To protect quality and safety in children’s homes, Ofsted will also be given new powers to issue civil fines to providers, working more quickly to deter unscrupulous behaviour than with existing criminal powers.
More widely, the government is beginning the process of rebalancing the whole children’s social care system in favour of early intervention, giving every family the legal right to be involved in decisions made about children entering the care system.
Further plans for funding for children’s social care including investment in preventative services, are set to be laid out in the coming weeks in the upcoming Local Government Finance Settlement.
Cllr Arooj Shah, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said: “It is positive to see the Government building on recent progress following the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, and pursuing an approach rooted in what we know works for children and their families.
“We are particularly pleased to see an ongoing focus on early help and family networks, and a strong commitment to tackling profiteering and other problems in the market for children’s social care placements.
“Moving forward, progress will be limited by the significant funding and workforce challenges within children’s social care, councils and amongst partners more widely.
“It is vital that the Government uses the forthcoming Spending Review to ensure that all those working to keep children safe and to help them thrive have the resources they need to do that well.”
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “Every child deserves to grow up safe, happy, healthy and engaged in their communities and in their education. With this Bill we have an opportunity to repair how we treat childhood in this country.
“Children are paying the price of a broken social care system that allows profits over protection. They are enduring things no child should ever have to: living in isolation in illegal children’s homes, often at enormous cost, deprived of their liberty without due process, often surrounded by security guards instead of receiving love and care.
“Children in the social care system today are living week to week in limbo. They need action without delay, not plans or strategies, so I welcome the urgency with which this government is setting out plans to tackle some of the most entrenched challenges. There must be no limits on our ambition for these children and I will look forward to working closely with ministers to push for radical reform.”
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector said: “These new powers will allow Ofsted to do more to make sure all children’s homes are safe and nurturing places, and to combat illegal and poor-quality homes quickly and effectively.
“We welcome these reforms and stand ready to deliver the Government’s new asks as soon as possible.”
Sarah Cardell, CEO of the CMA, said: “We are pleased to see the government taking this next step towards reforming the children’s social care market, in line with our recommendations.
“Our market study found multiple concerns – including a shortage of appropriate places – which need to be tackled to ensure vulnerable children and young people are getting the homes they need. We will continue to work with the government to make sure the plan delivers longstanding improvements.”
Other key measures set to be announced today include:
New powers for Ofsted to investigate multiple homes being run by the same company, acting on the recommendations made in response to the vile abuse uncovered at the Hesley group of children’s homes.
Delivery of the manifesto commitment to introduce a consistent child identifier, making sure information can be shared between professionals so they can intervene before issues escalate.
The requirement for every council to have ‘multi-agency’ child safeguarding teams, involving children’s schools and teachers, stopping children from falling through the cracks.
The requirement for all local authorities to offer the Staying Close programme – a package of support which enables care leavers to find and keep accommodation, alongside access to practical and emotional help, up to the age of 21, ending the cliff-edge of support many experience at 18.
A new duty on parents where if their child is subject to a child protection enquiry, or on a child protection plan, they will need local authority consent to home educate that child.
The government will continue to work closely with the sector and local authorities as these changes are introduced to ensure the best possible outcomes for all children and young people, and their families.
Children in Edinburgh and Glasgow can now access free face-to-face emotional health and wellbeing support from Children First thanks to funding from BBC Children in Need, in partnership with The Children’s Society and MACS Supporting Children and Young People.
Glasgow and Edinburgh are two of 13 areas chosen to host the new Space to growprogramme, which aims to support around 6,000 children aged 8 to 13 over the next two years across the UK.
From November, Children First will be able to extend its existing services and reach in Scotland’s two largest cities, working with schools and other local partners to help even more children.
The service isn’t just for children. Parents, carers, and school staff will also receive resources to help them talk about tough topics with youngsters. Parents and carers across Scotland will also be able to access help for any young person they are worried about via Children First’s support line on 08000 28 22 33.
Space to grow specifically targets children who are often underrepresented in emotional health services, including those from the global majority, young carers, and LGBTQ+ youth. Alongside direct support, the programme will build an evidence base to advocate for improvements in emotional health and wellbeing services.
Debbie Noble, assistant director at Children First, said: “At Children First we’re passionate about protecting Scotland’s children. So, we’re delighted to be working with BBC Children in Need, the Children’s Society and MACS through the Space to grow partnership to give thousands of children hope and a brighter future.
“Any adult in Scotland who is worried about a child’s emotional health and wellbeing can call our support line, 365 days a year for help and advice, or contact us via our website – www.childrenfirst.org.uk.”
Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: “We’re thrilled to launch Space to grow and support so many children before they reach crisis point.
“The £1 million from Children in Need lets us reach children who often miss out on early help. We look forward to seeing thousands more children happier, healthier, and thriving by the end of the programme.”
Dr Alex George said: “I was honoured to meet with the brilliant team at The Children’s Society back in May to present them with the BBC Children in Need A Million & Me Award.
“It has been a pleasure to follow their journey since and see them make great strides in the early intervention approach to mental health in such a short amount of time.
“I look forward to seeing their continued impact in the space with the launch of the programme, inspiring safe and regular conversations around mental and emotional wellbeing”.
People are more likely to die due to an accident in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK – the rate of accidental death is up 57% over the last decade
Fatalities on Scottish roads are 46% higher than the UK
Accidents cost the UK £12 billion every year – £6 billion in NHS medical care and £5.9 billion in lost working days
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has launched ‘Safer Lives, Stronger Nation’, which reveals new data into rising accident numbers and calls on the Government to implement a National Accident Prevention Strategy to save lives, boost the economy and free up capacity in the NHS
Scotland is home to the highest rate of accidental death in the UK – currently 56% higher than the UK’s overall rate of accidental death and 67% higher than the rate in England, meaning people are far more likely to die in an accident in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK according to a new report* launched by RoSPA, ‘Safer Lives, Stronger Nation’.
As well as the tragic human loss, preventable accidents cost the UK a massive £12 billion every year due to lost working days and medical care. RoSPA is calling on the Government to implement a National Accident Prevention Strategy to save lives, boost the economy and free up capacity in the NHS.
RoSPA’s new report reveals that the rate of accidental death in Scotland has risen by 57% in the last decade and accidents now take over 2,500 lives each year.
This increase in the number of accidental deaths in Scotland can be seen across almost every type of accident.
Despite positive steps such as the successes of Water Safety Scotland and the Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance, the recent abolition of Home Safety Scotland shows that the Government is still not taking a sufficiently robust approach to the nation’s alarming rise in accident rates.
Number of accidental deaths in 2022
% rise in accidental death rates, 2013 to 2022
Rate of accidental deaths per 100,000 people
UK-wide
21,336
42% increase
32 deaths
England
16,765
40% increase
29 deaths
Scotland
2,677
57% increase
49 deaths
Wales
1,206
41% increase
39 deaths
Northern Ireland
688
56% increase
36 deaths
Highest likelihood of fatality on Scottish roads
People are almost twice as likely (46%) to have a fatal transport-related accident in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK. This substantially higher fatality rate in Scotland exists across car users, pedestrians and motorcyclists – with people in cars 166% more likely to be killed in an accident driving in Scotland than they are elsewhere in the UK. Pedestrians are 96% more likely to be killed in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK and motorcyclists are 51% more likely to be killed in an accident on Scottish roads than in the rest of the country.
Other types of accidental deaths highest in Scotland
Tragically, Scotland isn’t just home to the highest rates of fatal road accidents – its non-transport fatal accident rate is also more than twice (57%) as high as the rest of the UK. Death from accidental poisoning is 139% higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK. There has been a sharp spike in drug-related deaths in Scotland since the early 2010s, which has one of the highest rates of drug deaths in the developed world, although this has begun to fall in recent years.
Death from accidental drowning is 59% higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK. This is partly due to ease of access to inland water, which creates more opportunities for drowning but is also compounded by lower water temperatures, making the risk of cold-water shock higher.
Death from exposure to smoke, fire or flames is 42% higher than the rest of the UK. This rate reflects the higher rate of dwelling fires in Scotland, which has been falling for several years but remains much higher than England and Wales.
Death from accidental fall accounts for 42% of all accidental deaths in Scotland, so the fact that they are almost twice (45%) as likely in Scotland than the rest of the UK is significant. The reasons for this aren’t recorded, but it could be due to rugged terrain and wetter conditions, and potentially higher proportions of people living in flats or apartments.
Cause of accidental death
Rate in Scotland compared to the UK as a whole
Rate in Wales compared to the UK as a whole
Rate in Northern Ireland compared to the UK as a whole
All types of accidental deaths
56% higher
22% higher
14% higher
Transport-related
46% higher
18% higher
34% higher
Transport accident – car occupants
166% higher
5% higher
88% higher
Transport accident – pedestrians
96% higher
35% lower
142% higher
Transport accident – motorcyclists
51% higher
78% higher
20% higher
Non-transport related
57% higher
22% higher
13% higher
Poisoning
139% higher
6% higher
10% lower
Drowning
59% higher
10% lower
71% higher
Exposure to smoke, fire or flames
42% higher
34% higher
18% higher
Falls
45% higher
24% higher
37% higher
Falls are the most common cause of accidental death in Scotland
RoSPA’s data reveals that like the UK as a whole, falls are the most common cause of accidental death in Scotland (42%), followed by poisonings (40%).
Most common cause of accidental death in 2022 (UK wide)
Most common cause of accidental death in 2022 (Scotland)
1.Falls – 46%
Falls – 42%
2.Poisonings – 26%
Poisonings – 40%
3.Other – 13%
Road traffic / transport – 7%
4.Road traffic / transport – 7%
Other – 5%
5.Threats to breathing e.g. choking and suffocating – 3%
Threats to breathing e.g. choking and suffocating – 2%
6. Drowning – 1%
Drowning – 1%
Accidents cost the UK almost £12 billion every year
As well as personal pain and injury, accidents put a huge strain on the NHS, costing at least £6 billion annually in NHS medical care – not including ambulance callouts, surgery or long-term treatment.
Across the UK accidents led to around 5.2 million bed days, costing the NHS an estimated £5.4 billion last year. In addition, accidents resulted in around 7 million Accident & Emergency (A&E) visits across the UK last year, costing a further £613 million, bringing the total cost of accidents to the NHS to at least £6 billion annually.
Accident-related injuries are also a drain on the economy and prevent people from working. The combined cost to UK businesses is £5.9 billion, due to lost output and indirect management costs.
Ten times more working days lost due to accidents than strikes
Across the UK in 2022/23 7.7 million working days were lost by those who were unable to work after an accident as they’d been admitted to hospital, or by their carers who took time off work to be with them. A further 21 million working days were lost by those who had to attend A&E after an accident. In total in 2022/23 accidents led to almost 29 million lost working days across the UK – 10 times more than were lost due to strikes (2.7 million lost working days) in the same year.
RoSPA is calling for the Government to create a National Accident Prevention Strategy to save lives, boost the economy and free up capacity in the NHS.
Steve Cole, Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs Director at RoSPA, said: “Scotland is facing an accident crisis. It has the worst rates of accidental death than anywhere else in the UK.
“Scots are substantially more likely to suffer a serious accident today than they were 20 years ago. We must take action now to stop further preventable deaths and serious injuries – accidents are avoidable and do not need to happen.
“Even those who have never been involved in an accident are still suffering, as increasing numbers of accidents are choking the UK economy and engulfing the NHS – taking up bed space, money, time and resources that could be directed to other serious illnesses.
“Our new report revealing the growing numbers and types of fatal and life-changing accidents across the UK unveils a new public health scandal. By implementing a National Accident Prevention Strategy to sit across government departments problems can be tackled at their core, with a joined-up approach to cover all types of accidents – whether they happen at home, on the road, at work or in public.
“For too long we have accepted the economic and social consequences of accidents, and we’re still paying the price. We are calling for a National Accident Prevention Strategy to make Scotland a safer place to live.”
Dan Evans, Chief Executive at Speedy Hire, said: “We take health and safety extremely seriously, and it is a source of immense pride that we have been recognised for our excellence in keeping colleagues and customers safe.
“For us, colleague safety doesn’t begin and end at the workplace door, which is why at Speedy Hire we take a ‘whole person, whole life’ approach. This has never been more important to do so, as RoSPA’s report reveals people are far more likely to suffer a serious accident at home than they are at work.
“Both the cost of accidents to peoples’ personal lives and to businesses is far too high, so we must act now to keep people safe and support economic growth.”
Dr. James Broun, Research Manager at RoSPA and author of ‘Safer Lives, Stronger Nation’, said: “Our major review of all accident data uncovers the full scale and true cost of accidents for the very first time. This data is unique; it looks at all types of accidents across the UK, as well as individually across all four nations.
“Accidents aren’t currently monitored or recorded to the same extent as other health issues, but the findings are alarming. Accident rates across the UK, as well as within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – are rising steeply. We’ve brought together this data to reveal the reality of this crisis and to impress upon the Government that action must be taken to reverse rising accident figures.”
RoSPA are calling for the Government to seize the initiative and create a National Accident Prevention Strategy – a first for the UK. And, because it’s impossible to arrest a crisis like this without a plan, RoSPA propose that the National Accident Prevention Strategy is the specific responsibility of an individual minister without a portfolio. This would enable the minister to treat accident prevention holistically, with the authority to attend the Cabinet and the ability to convene cross-departmental committees.
The National Accident Prevention Strategy must:
Take a joined-up approach which cuts across departments and provides strategic leadership to guide policy making at national level
Empower individual departments or agencies to craft and implement more detailed policies
Propose ambitious and evidence-led but realistic policy interventions to reduce accident rates
Cover the core sectors directly affecting the UK economy: home, work, product, leisure and transport
Be forward-facing to address emerging challenges, like the climate crisis, the rise of AI and the UK’s ageing population
Address inequalities like deprivation, age, ethnicity and region
Take a four-nations approach to data sharing and collaboration
Strengthen Government’s data collection and publishing processes relating to accidents
A new Home Office unit to monitor performance of police forces will be announced by the Home Secretary this week
A dedicated government unit to improve performance across policing and make our streets safer will be announced by the Home Secretary this week.
In a speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Association for Police and Crime Commissioners on Tuesday, Yvette Cooper will outline the new unit as part of a roadmap for major reform that will create a new partnership between the Home Office and police.
To ensure communities can have confidence in their local police force, the unit will harness national data to monitor performance and direct improvements, building on the existing work of the College of Policing, policing inspectorate (HMICFRS), NPCC and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).
For the first time in over a decade, a dedicated Home Office unit will be introduced to directly monitor police performance, including in high-priority areas such as tackling violence against women and girls, knife crime and improving neighbourhood policing.
Officer time spent on the frontline will be monitored as part of the intelligence drive, drawing on local police data. Police response times will also be standardised and measured, a key issue for the public that is currently not consistently monitored and managed. Through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, the government is committed to ensuring officers are spending more time being visible and accessible in our communities, and minimising administrative tasks.
The Home Office will use police-recorded data on child sexual abuse to help forces understand and tackle the hidden harms in their areas. This will support forces in identifying how they can do more to build victim confidence, draw offending out of the shadows and bring perpetrators to justice.
There will also be a focus on police standards, with data on misconduct, vetting and disciplinary procedures collected, monitored and acted on to ensure forces are rooting out those who are not fit to serve and help restore the public’s trust in their local officers.
With a more comprehensive picture of how policing is delivering for its communities, the Home Secretary will take a more hands-on approach to driving improvements, working with policing partners to ensure that the appropriate support, and where necessary, direct intervention is being identified and delivered.
The new performance unit will complement the current system, with PCCs taking on a renewed focus on strengthening local policing and preventing crime in their areas.
In her speech, the Home Secretary is expected to say: “This is a critical juncture for the future of policing. And if as a country we are to remain equipped to fight the fast-changing challenges of today and tomorrow, then we know policing must evolve.
“We have a huge opportunity ahead of us to reset the relationship between government and the police, to regain the trust and support of the people we all serve and to reinvigorate the best of British policing.
“Strong and consistent performance is critical to commanding public confidence. I truly believe that working together we can mobilise behind this mission – and deliver a fairer, safer country for all.”
The Home Secretary is expected to set out her vision for policing, and how this focus on data and performance is just part of an ambitious programme to bring the founding principles of policing by consent and preventing crime to the 21st Century.
The need for reform has the backing of police leaders, with the government committed to working with them to bring the change needed to reconnect policing with the communities they serve.
It builds on a government manifesto commitment to give the policing inspectorate (HMICFRS) greater powers to intervene in failing forces and on the important work that they, the College of Policing and PCCs are doing to boost standards and drive improvement.
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